Physiotherapy in Occupational Health Johanna Koroma Diacor

Physiotherapy in Occupational Health Johanna Koroma Diacor Health Services

Core Competencies Assessment of physical work load Balancing physical work load by applying ergonomics Prevention of work related strain injuries and musculoskeletal disorders Promotion of functional and working capacity

Promoting a Wellfunctioning Working Environment Participates in assessing the work load and ergonomic factors related to musculoskeletal disorders Takes part in developing and planning of working conditions Provides information about physical stress factors at workplace, for manufacturing and product engineering, for furniture design and lay-out planning Takes part in the assessment and selection of optimal furniture, work equipment and ergonomic accessories Takes part in planning of company fitness facilities

Aiming at a Functional Work Community Participates in multidisciplinary development projects in the work community Plans and implements actions to promote and maintain working capacity Informs different personnel groups about factors causing musculoskeletal stress and about connection between mental stress and physical symptoms/physical condition Takes part in planning, developing and implementing company fitness services

Benefiting the Well-being of the Employee Gives instructions for the promotion and maintenance of functional and working capacity, based on individual physical examination Guides to choose optional work movements and postures, optimal work equipment and tools Assesses the need for physiotherapy treatments and participates in planning of rehabilitation Plans and instructs various group activities e.g. early rehabilitation, relaxation, neck and back groups

Physiotherapy in Occupational Health Care as a Service Product Plannin g Implementation Followup Occupational physiotherapist participates as an active member in all these phases

The Main Connections - COLLABORATION! Multidisciplinary occupational health care team (physicians, health nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational hygienists) Human Resources (HR) Line organization Office furniture suppliers and buyers, facility personnel Manufacturing and product engineers, designers and architects Occupational safety organization Physiotherapy private practices and rehabilitation centers

Education Required level: Degree in physiotherapy Specialization education program (30 ects points) in polytechnics or qualification training arranged by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (10,5 ects points) Further education: Further education courses in occupational health care, occupational safety, ergonomics, biomechanics and sports physiology (minimum 7 days per year) Master of Science, Medical Faculty, University of Kuopio - ergonomics as major subject

Thoughts of Education The education should provide meetings between different occupational health care experts To learn teamwork To empower distributed expertise To become an expert one needs to take part in a community of practice To understand of different points of view of expert groups e.g. different goals Also important to understand one’s strengths and limits

The Association of Finnish Physiotherapists in Occupational Safety and Health Founded in 1976 All physiotherapists working in occupational health care or in close teamwork with occupational health care personnel and have required education are accepted as members 650 members A periodical for members is published 4 times in a year